Labradors shedding and itching, any cures?

Question

We have a black lab, Ebony, and a yellow lab, Gunnie... Ebony itches like crazy! She will sometimes lose her hair! The vet recommends an allergy shot, only problem is $50 a month! Gunnie doesn't itch but he sure does shed! You can pet down his back and get a handful. I'm just wondering if there are any cost effective treatments out there and/or if you know what may be causing this. They are both inside, spoiled rotten, fed Iams lamb and rice, and are our babies. I really don't want to spend alot. I love them both, but come-on... my meds are only $7 a month :)

Answer 1

First off Labs are known shedders....they maybe don't shed for about 13 seconds a year...get those labs off that dog food.Dogs can have wheat,corn,soy allergies all ingredients in Iams and many other dog foods.I work with dogs and i have noticed MANY labs are coming in with allergies....You can give benedryl but ask Vet how much per weight of the dog.It comes in pill form also.To get dogs to take pills....
when dog is out of kitchen take 2 pieces of cheese out.Wrap pill in one piece of cheese.The other piece of cheese is what you give them first when you call them in.They will be looking for more..quickly give them the other piece of cheese with pill wrapped in it.Make it like a game be excited like you are giving them the most tasty morsel in the world.Has worked for me ALWAYS.Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi, I have 3 labs. 2 chocolate , 1 black. Labs shed twice a year because they have 2 coats. My oldest lab. Coke ( chocolate ) weights 145 lbs. He does the itch thing too. He has really dry shin though and I have started giving him oil in his food to see if this will help with the itching.I comb them all---outside almost every day because that's too much hair for the vacuum but I can see white flakes on him when he is brushed. Do you find any white flakes on yours?It could be dry skin,or it could be allergies like your vet thinks. I would try bathing him with some kind of mite dip also.It can be many things but I start with the easiest ( and cheapest ) thing and go from there.

Answer 3

They have proven that increasing the omega 3/omega 6 fatty acids in an animals diet can help to improve dogs skin and hair coats. Even cut down on allergic type reactions. Talk to your veterinarian about prescription diet D/D or supplements. Corticosteroids (allergy shots) can and should be used when needed but if we can control the itching other ways than I would go that route.
Oh by the way allergy shots also come in pill and liquid form and maybe less expensive than a shot.

Answer 4

I had a black lab whoes name was Gentle Ben. He was allergic to fleas & flea collars, & other types of flea repellents/killers. We had the Vet give him cortisone shots. These stop the itching for 5-6 months. They will cause your dog to wanna "piddle" in the floor though. & it does raise the liver enzymes. So its only a temporary fix. It does help them with arthritis too though. As for your other dog there are no shed/low shed sprays & shampoos you can try. Most pet stores sell them. Also you might try a shed "mitt". This is a mitten with soft rubber nubs on the bottom. Used on a daily basis as you're petting your dog it really helps! Good luck! Smiles :)

Answer 5

CHANGE THE FOOD. Iams doesn't have Omega 3's. That helps ALOT. Look for Flaxseed meal or oil. Or something with Salmon or salmon oil. That will help. Give it 2 months, if still not better go on a grain free food. Try a place with a good return policy that will let you return a food if they don't like it.

Answer 6

the first thing i would do is have them professionally bathed and brushed out, it will get rid of most of the loose hair and you can start form ground floor on the problem(make suer the goromer knows to use a hypo shampoo)

the second thing i would do is change the food, you want something with no wheat, no soy, not chicken,no beed
iams lamb and rice has chicken in it, and wheat
try blue buffalo, they make a salmon and sweat potatoe formula that is very good for allergies

then, give it a month at least with NO TABLEFOOD
get the new food into them and see if that helps, alot of times it really will help to get the wheat, corn and poulty out of thier diet

Answer 7

I've heard of labs having allergies to wheat, which is sometimes in dog food but more often in treats (human food). If you do feed them human food, I'd stop and see if that helps. If it only happens in the winter, it could be dry skin from being inside where the air dries from heating. I don't recommend they live outside, but maybe adding some humidity to the air would help.

Good Luck - God Bless - - enjoy your pets.

Answer 8

you might try to wash you're dog in raw egg what you do is cover you're dog in raw egg then let it dri that will make him/her itch don't worry wash it off repeat this for 5 days if that doesn't work then try a flee bath
good luck !


p.s. to stop itching to stop shedding get them off there food ask youre vet what food could help

Answer 9

It's something they are eatining, or if you have them on a monthly flea medicine, that will cause it. The medicine dries their skin really bad. If they have a foul odor, then definately its a skin allergy. I'd change their diet or try to figure out what it is your doing different with them

Answer 10

There are some very good medicated shampoo's on the market for pets with ichy skin and allergic skin. Check at Drs.Fosters&Smith.com. I use their oatmeal shampoo for my Goldens.